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Rachael

@Bookish_Rachael

May 31

On 31st May 1809, the first gap opened in the ranks of the marshalate.

Following his wounding at the Battle of Aspern-Essling some days prior, Jean Lannes had had his leg amputated and it seemed to those solicitous for his comfort that he was rallying well.

He was considering prosthetics at Kaiserebersdorf, and reportedly discussing his wish to be of further use to Napoleon, when fever set in.

After several long, protracted hours of suffering, Lannes died at day break. He was 40 years old.

Napoleon, very genuinely devastated, wrote to Josephine: "I am in great grief for the loss of the Duke of Montebello, who died this morning. And so all things come to their end! Goodbye, dear friend; do anything you can to console the Marshal’s poor wife...

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Rachael

@Bookish_Rachael

May 29

Emmanuel de Grouchy, the last marshal to be appointed by Napoleon, died today in 1847.

He is chiefly - and very much unfairly (as per my recent rant on the Napoleonicist) - remembered as being the reason for the defeat at Waterloo.

Born into the aristocracy, Grouchy was from a progressive family and wholeheartedly supported the political philosophy of the Revolution, despite being deprived of rank at one point due to his noble roots.

He was part of the ill-fated attempt to invade Ireland in 1796.

Grouchy’s career was one of a solid and talented commander of cavalry, particularly distinguishing himself at Eylau and Friedland.

This tends to all get forgotten at the expense of Waterloo, despite the fact that Grouchy won a creditable victory at Wavre.

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Rachael

@Bookish_Rachael

Dec 6, 2021

Someone get the bandages at the ready as today’s #MarshalAdventCalendar is the marshal who managed to accumulate at least 34 wounds in the course of his career and must have had a whole division of Guardian angels watching over him!

It’s Nicolas Oudinot.

Oudinot was the only surviving son of a brewer in Bar-le-Duc. Consequently his parents desperately wanted him to choose a safe career, but the young man was set on military life; serving in the army for 3 years before retiring due to lack of promotion prospects.

The Revolution called him back to active service and by 1794 he was a general of brigade, accumulating numerous wounds on the way. He worked particularly well with Masséna in Switzerland; who wrote of Oudinot in the warmest possible terms.

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Rachael

@Bookish_Rachael

Dec 5, 2021

It’s all about to get controversial! Day 5 of #MarshalAdventCalendar is Napoleon’s ultimate frenemy and the marshal who went on to gain a throne and actually keep it: Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte.

I’m doing my best to be concise but this will be a longer thread!

Bernadotte was born in Pau and was the son of the prosecutor. He was intended for a law career but this was halted (spot the theme) by the death of his father. Instead he enlisted.

He rose as high as a commoner could under the Bourbons… then the Revolution came.

The new opportunities provided by the Revolution meant that Bernadotte could gain extremely rapid promotion and showcase his ability as a commander. He performed well at Fleurus and Theiningen before he eventually had to leave Germany for Italy instead.

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Rachael

@Bookish_Rachael

Dec 4, 2021

Day 4 of #MarshalAdventCalendar and today it’s the man who was never shy to tell Napoleon what he thought…whether the emperor liked it or not! It’s one of Napoleon’s few close friends - Jean Lannes.

Lannes had no great level of education and was apprenticed to a dyer in his teens. His strength and bravery stood him in good stead when he enlisted though and he distinguished himself in the Italian campaign; rapidly gaining rank and personally capturing two flags at Bassano.

He accompanied Napoleon to Egypt and was very badly wounded at Aboukir. He returned to France alongside Napoleon and supported him during the Brumaire coup. He was instrumental to victory at Montbello, from where he got his ducal title.

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Rachael

@Bookish_Rachael

Dec 3, 2021

Day 3 of #MarshalAdventCalendar and today it’s the man who won his baton in Spain: Louis-Gabriel Suchet.

Alongside Bernadotte he was one of the most politically-astute of the 26, and Napoleon would later say that he wished he’d had two of Suchet.

Suchet, who was the son of a silk merchant, enlisted at age 21 in the cavalry of the National Guard and quickly began to rise through the ranks.

He served at Toulon, where he took General O’Hara prisoner.

Suchet began to make a name for himself throughout the Italian campaign, rising to the rank of General, and was specifically requested by Joubert for his Chief of Staff.

Afterwards he served under Masséna, with whom he eventually clashed, then Soult and Lannes.

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